Character waited for leave period (5)
I believe the answer is:
godot
'character waited for' is the definition.
(reference to the play Waiting for Godot)
'leave period' is the wordplay.
'leave' becomes 'go'.
'period' becomes 'dot' (as in a full stop).
'go'+'dot'='GODOT'
(Other definitions for godot that I've seen before include "it's no use waiting for him!" , "Character never appearing" , "Samuel Beckett play ''Waiting for . . . . . '' (5)" , "One theatrically waited for" , "someone waited for in theatre" .)